THE OSPREY. 



parative Zoolog-y, Volume II, Number 3), the 

 wonder is that the conclusion reached were 

 nearly so accurate as later work has shown them 

 to be. The writer has had occasion to examine 

 manj' local lists, as well as to prepare a number 

 for his own use, and out of this experience have 

 g-rown the sus^w^estions embodied in the present 

 paper. While these are intended to apply only 

 to bird lists, it is believed that many of the 

 ideas set forth will apply as well to the prepara- 

 tion of local lists in other departments of natu- 

 ral history. 



A model faunal list consists of two parts: the 

 introduction, or descriptive portion, and the list 

 proper, with its annotations. The sequence of 

 the subject-matter of the introduction, thouj,'-h 

 not determined by an invariable rule, is orderly 

 and logical, all the points being- discussed fully 

 and clearly, avoiding- loose, vague, and careless 

 statements. The g-eography of the region 

 covered by the list should be carefully described, 

 the more minuteh' the better. The exact bound- 

 aries of the district should be precisely indi- 

 cated, as it is important to know to just what 

 extent of the territory the observations as a 

 whole refer, and what portions have been most 

 thoroughlv worked. The surface features are 

 to be indicated in sufficient detail, defining and 

 describing the various areas of plain and hill, 

 mountain, plateau and valley, not omitting their 

 respective altitudes above sea-level where 

 known. The di'ainage system is to be worked 

 out, comprising a suitable description of the 

 water-courses, lakes and swamps. 



Not less important, from its intimate relation 

 to bird life, is the character of the vegetation of 

 the various topographical areas, particularly as 

 regards the forest-growth. The character and 

 extent of the forest is to be indicated, specifj'- 

 ing the most prominent and characteristic trees 

 comprising it, particular attention being given 

 to their affinities and local distribution. In the 

 Eastern United States the distribution of coni- 

 fers is of especial importance in this connection. 

 Mention should be made of the birds character- 

 istic of the various forest-areas, and such in- 

 formal lists should form a part as well of the 

 more detailed description of the tracts of open 

 country, swamps, stream-banks, etc., upon 

 whose botanical aspects notes are also desirable. 



The tiine-period covered bj^ the observations 

 of the list, whether a number of years or but a 

 few davs, should be stated, with limiting dates. 

 If more time were devoted to field-work at one 

 season than another it should be so mentioned. 

 Notes on the climate of the region, on migration 

 and migration routes, on "fly-lines", on the re- 

 lative abundance of certain groups of species, 

 and any other facts of a general nature, are to 

 be included in the discussion. 



There should be added, at least wliere obser- 

 vations have not been confined to one period of 

 the year, nominal lists of species, properly ar- 

 ranged under their respective categories as to 

 .seasonal status, each list being preceded by a 

 statement of the nvtmber of species included 

 therein. These lists constitute a convenient 

 suinmary of the whole paper. The introduction 

 may very properly closed with a discussion of the 

 faunal position and relations of the region. 



The first rule as to the list proper is: no spe- 

 cies to be included whose occurrence or identifi- 

 cation is in the least doubt. If such are thought 

 worthy of mention at all they should be re- 

 legated to a supplementary "hypothetical list". 

 For uniformity's sake the sequence and nomen- 

 clature of the species should follow that of some 

 recognized standard, such as in this country', 

 the "American Ornithologists' Union Check- 

 List of North American Birds". It is well to 

 avoid, as far as possible, sameness of expression 

 in treating the different species, thus doing 

 away with much undesirable monotony. 



The seasonal status and abundance of a bird 

 are the most important items to be noted. Thus, 

 it should be indicated whether each species is a 

 permanent resident, summer resident, winter 

 resident, transient visitant during the migra- 

 g-rations, or merely an accidental stragg-ler. 

 Not infrequently, however, it is uncertain to 

 what category' a given species properly belongs, 

 owing perhaps to the fluctuation in abvmdance 

 from season to season, or from year to year. In 

 such cases full data on its occurrence should be 

 given, from which the reader may draw his own 

 conclusions. It often happens that a bird is 

 resident as a species, but migratory as indi- 

 viduals. Again, some species may winter in 

 small numbers, the bulk going farther south, 

 while others may breed but sparingly, the bulk 

 in such cases passing on to the northward. 

 Transient visitants are often more abundant in 

 spring than in fall, or I'ice versa, and have dif- 

 ferent haunts and habits. Some birds may be 

 of regular occurrence, others quite the reverse. 



The seasonal abundance of each species as 

 thus outlined should be given in terms as ex- 

 plicit as possible, although it is unfortunately 

 true that in the nature of the case the terms 

 used to denote degrees of abundance do not 

 mean the same to different persons. Often it is 

 an advantag-e to compare the abundance of a 

 given species with that of a near ally, stating 

 their relative number. The more numerous a 

 bird, the more general may be the discussion of 

 its status and abundance, but in the case of rare 

 species the data, precise locality, and circum- 

 stances of each occurrence should be given if 

 possible. Kxceptional and unseasonable occur- 

 rences of anj' species are always to be noted, 

 with necessary particulars. 



As a rule, it is safe in this latitude (Pennsyl- 

 vania) to consider species found during June to 

 be breeders, but to this there are conspicuous 

 exceptions. It should therefore be stated upon 

 what grounds the species is entered as a breeder, 

 that is. the finding of a nest or unfledged young, 

 or merely occurrence in or through the breeding 

 season, noting also the usual time of nesting, 

 and whether more than one brood is reared in a 

 season. In cases where nests of rare species 

 have lieen found, full particulars should be 

 given, with a description of the nest and eggs, 

 not forgetting the date and precise locality. 

 Full data on the nesting of any species whose 

 breeding- in a given locality is exceptional is 

 also desirable. 



Scarcely less important, in the case of migra- 

 tory species, than the statement of seasonal oc- 

 currence is the //;;/(• of the occurrence. Here 



